What worked in 1963 works today

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring childrenInto the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would neverForgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

-Bob Dylan 1963

Punk-Ass!!

I just saw a documentary on IFC about the evolution of punk. I know it's trivial, but it's always pissed me off that The Ramones get credit for originating punk. The Ramones' first album was released in 1976. The Stooges first album was released in 1969. Maybe it's because I'm from Ann Arbor, and I personally know people who have played with the Ashetons, and Iggy for that matter. I'm way too young to have noticed it while it was happening, but I'm a HUGE fan of the Stooges. And that has nothing to do with my girth. The stuff that was coming out of NYC in the mid to late 70s was good, no doubt, but pales in comparison to The Stooges and MC5. Ann Arbor, not NYC, was the birthplace of punk. Thanks to Iggy, the Ashetons, and John Sinclair.

Death of a Nation

Racism. Such an ap- propriately nasty word. There are many who belive that racism was a factor in the Federal Gov- ernment's (Bush's) delay in taking action. Now, I despise that crook just as much as the next lefty liberal. But I don't see that racism was a factor at all. What I DO believe the factors to be were...

a) he was on vacation, and couldn't be bothered.
b) This was a "Blue" region of Louisiana. Who gives a shit about "those people" anyway?
c) It wasn't so much a racial issue, but a social one.

Barack Obama cited the "passive indifference on the part of our government towards the least of these". I think he summed it up well. It doesn't matter if they are African, European, Hispanic, or Asian. They were poor, disadvantaged inner city people who had no way to evacuate. The choice was not theirs. They HAD to stay. There was nowhere for them to go, and no way for them to get there.

There is going to be a LOT of racial backlash about this, too. For decades and centuries, there was a legitimate gripe about discrimination, neglect, and persecution regarding race. This is a fact. It is hard to convince a large number of African-Americans that this is not the case... this time.

Have you got anything without spam in it?

This is ridiculous! I've deleted the spam comments on this page, although it seems they're the only comments I get here. I didn't want to, but I turned on word verification so I no longer have this problem. Spammers suck. Now, go away or I shall taunt you a second time!

The Big Not-So-Easy

It's been over a week since my last post. I've been trying to come up with the words to accurately express my sadness, outrage, and disgust. There are none. Every time I began an entry, I would simply come up blank. Thousands upon thousands of people have lost absolutely everything, including loved ones. People have been stranded, and forced to do things they would not otherwise do simply to survive. There are always those who take things way too far, and do what they can to take advantage of a bad situation. These people should be dealt with appropriately. Police have abused their power, and opened fire upon innocent victims. FEMA has completely mismanaged the relief effort. Bush had initially declined any foreign aid, as we are a nation that provides aid, not recieves it. Thankfully, Bush has changed his mind on this matter, and is allowing foreign aid to supplement our efforts. While my way in to work tonight, I heard a report on NPR that Bush has asked Congress for $50B for aid. Hopefully he won't misappropriate those funds to Iraq. Hopefully, this money will be put to good use.

In the shadows of the media's constant, relentless coverage of the Gulf State's battering, Bush is using this cover to slip John Roberts in to replace Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. How nice would it be to make sure that your buddy presides over your inevitable impeachment hearings?